Of recent I have been reading a lot (and especially form Kenyan newspaper) on how among other things we (Tanzania) are dragging our feet towards the full scale federation. – meaning- That we should do the right thing and agree to surrender our national interests for the federation –
Among other things, most authors finds it hard to understand why on hell we chose to align ourselves with SADC (where South Africa is the power house) rather than COMESA (in which Kenya & Egypt are the power house). The argument is that we have "myopic leaders" spanner boys for the west, etc etc... you may read the whole piece here.
Well, I will need to do more research to be able to argue anything of value... but quickly; I do not blame the Tanzanian government a bit for going at it slowly. IN the 60's & 70's we had what was known as East African Community. From where we stand... we really took that thing to heart! We forsake our sovereignty for the sake of the EAC. It was the selfishness act of a few nyang'aus (and not Tanzania) that robed us of that community. At the end of that day...we were left holding the bags! I was in Arusha at the time... and the feeling was.. once again we got burned!
Now, it seems we are at it again... and. this time it seems like the other side (Kenya) is all bent up to do this thing quickly.
We have a saying "Aliyeumwa na nyoka, hata unyasi ukimgusa jamaa ataruka futi sita juu"!
Again I will have to read a little on this whole issue, but why the hurry? We broke it once…, why should we jump back on it in a hurry? OK everyone else seems to want to unite and form these huge economic blocks – well and good! But, we saw this 40 years ago and we acted on it “whole heartedly” The results was… it came a time when a few people in leadership of the time, thought it was to “…the interest of their nation…” to break the community – and boy they went at it! It was not good for us then! It was terrible and, in fact we lost! – left to “…throw out the peels…” Are we supposed to jump on it now, simply because you now get it?
In my opinion there are a lot of reason why we should cool off the jets and take our time
1. Politically we are still very different. While it seems we in Tanzania at least believe in the power of election – “despite the fact that we still ends up with our share of bad apples” – We are better off in that! We respect our constitution and our presidents leave office when their time is up. I do not think it will be beneficial for us to have a young guy like JMK trying to slug it out with the likes of Museveni (who has just “won” his… I am not even sure how many terms in the office.
2. Yes we have more resources… (of course it does not take a rocket scientist to figure that one out). It seems like we have started to see some fruits from those resources… But our people are still very very poor. Majority haven’t even started to see those benefits yet – wanazisikia kwenye luninga tu! Until the government figures out a way to make sure the masses also reaps the fruits of those resource…, I say that should be job #1 for the government. Federation will mean nothing if we still cannot play on the same field with those who are more “money minded” Kufanya hivyo ni kujitia kitanzi – You do not agree with this point of view? Convince me otherswise.
About the SADC Vs Comesa "thingy"... it is "...the economics stupid" I believe we are free to join whatever community, provided at the end of the day we (as a nation) have something to show for it. “Mkono mtupu haulambwi”! I feel proud when our government decides to take a deep breath, before it jumps on all these economic blocks!
Being neighbors (and even speaking the same language) is not a strong enough reason for me to join whatever you think is good for me. I have to be convinced that that relationship will be good to me and my kids! You may be my brother… but that does not mean you will the best business partner out there. As a matter of fact, I am convinced of the fact that doing business with your brother is a bad idea, unless you have everything spelled out clearly.
Federation? Lets learn of the benefits and weigh them against the cost of this relationship.
You are in a hurry? Too bad…, for I still need to take my time so I too can get it, before I jump in…
a It is as simple as that!
What do you think?
Ned
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
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The first East African community inherited a lot from the British policy of ensuring that kenya is the most industrialised, Uganda the centre of Education and Tanzania foreign oriented agriculture.
We didnt have a good start to begin with - we had a weak industrial base.We had a massive trade deficit especially with Kenya. Even the Kampala agreement gave us only tyre manufacturing, alluminium and some radio assembling plant... well not enough to bring us to speed.
Despite all the efforts very few investors from the EAC invested in Tanzania. Tanzania's policies and protectionism lured businesses to our neighbours. money exchanged hands somewhere north of our borders
What has changed since then? do we have are better industrial base now? We still depend on extractive industries...
The writer in that article talks about human resources etc, yes, We have a few million more educated people. educated people can be managers and bureaucrats - hardly entrepreneurs - kenya can safely say they have a capitalist class. we can't.In the money game business people win, not lecturers.
what i'm trying to say is that there will never be a time when we'll be ready enough to make a leap forward and join the federation. we've had enough time to clean our act. for the state to groom, to nurture entrepreneurs.
Like what was done in europe, dangle some carrot in front of greece, portugal, turkey... and they adjust, because they want to be part of the union, because the benefits are just too good.
from a panAfrican point of view it is always a good thing to think of regional unity... African unity etc,
in the here and now - i want to know a little more on the benefits tomorrow when someone will sign the papers.
Ned,
I also think it is better that we take our time and ponder about the pros and cons of the federation instead of just jumping in it.
You know despite the fact that there are several factors that speak for the federation, for instance:
- the determination of policy makers to prevent a repeat of the collapse suffered by the old EAC
- strong bond among Partner States based on commonality of our history, language and culture
- the elimination of political differences (all member states have embraced liberal economic policies) and
- the relatively strong economic growth enjoyed by Bongo and Uganda over the last decade compared to diminished growth in Kenya which has reduced the economic and social development gaps among the partner states - with the result that the fears of being left behind and of disproportionate enjoyment of the benefits of integration are much less pronounced today than three decades ago.
There are still some significant challenges to a lasting regional integration in East Africa. These challenges will require political will from partner states and their readiness to make difficult compromises.
Just some examples:
- Burundi and Rwanda have also applied for membership, but the democratization process in these countries is far from complete. It remains to be seen whether the two countries can and should be admitted to the Federation before they become politically stable.
- Simultaneous membership of Partner States in different regional integration initiatives is yet another major challenge. Kenya and Uganda belong to EAC and COMESA while Tanzania is a member of EAC and SADC. A number of problems arise out of this situation. Moja – subscription to more than one integration initiative means a country commits itself to divergent policies and strategies. Its political will is questionable. A commitment by one country to two different integration initiatives is even more problematic and irreconcilable as progress is made towards customs unions. This is a problem East African countries are bound to face in the near future with the expected coming into being of EAC and COMESA customs unions. Mbili – Equally important is the issue of multiple membership contributions to different integration organisations as well as the strain on a country’s expert human resources that comes with participation in parallel integration negotiations. It is imperative that EAC Partner States find a solution to this problem in order to allow undivided commitment to single integration process.
- The pervasive nature of poverty, the relatively small combined GNP (the EAC market is comparable to just one fifth of the South African economy) and the dominance of the agricultural sector in the economies of member states represent less favourable factors for integration. Mind you it is the manufacturing sector which provides for the bulk of cross-border tradable goods. The industrial sector is very small not only in Tanzania and Uganda, but also in Kenya. In 2000, the manufacturing sector contributed 13.1% of Kenya’s GDP, 7.5% in Bongoland and 9.1% in Uganda.
- The land issue: will people somehow be able to move from one partner state to another and even be able to acquire land and settle there?
We will have to overcome these challenges before we decide to go for the federation.
On why Tanzania withdrew from COMESA and decided to join SADC, the reasons given by the govt were unfavourable trade balances (between 1998 - 2000: exports $70.75 millions, imports $87 millions), overlapping memberships to many regional trade blocks with similar policy regulations, and costly membership fees ($3 millions a year). The funny thing, it seems, is that the decision to withdraw from COMESA was taken unilaterally by the govt without consultations with the private sector. There has been criticism from the business community, for example, the Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (TCCIA), the Confederation of Tanzania Industries (CTI) and the East African Business Council (EABC), said Tanzania businesses have lost US$70 million since its withdrawal from COMESA, etc etc. Some of the pro-COMESA lobbyists have accused the country of pandering to South African business interests. You know , South Africa has some big business operations here including cellular phone giant, Vodacom.
Several studies undertaken by interested parties have concluded that it was a mistake for the government to withdraw from Comesa.
Kwa hiyo bwana Ned hili suala ni gumu kidogo - unless if you have all the facts on the table.
Right on Joe,
What a good piece... You know more about this thing and, your comments taught me a thing or two.
Where a re we right now? What has the government committed themselves for so far? What are the expected next steps? Have we communicated (to other parties) enough about our concernes - especially as you have expressed them Joe?
While I would like to read more reasons for not joining right now (my opinion at the moment), do we have a reader who have ggod reasons for Tanzania to press on full speed ahead toward this thing?
Ned
What I know is that the partner states had undertaken to establish a Customs union, a Common Market, a Monetary Union and ultimately a Political Federation.
The establishment of an East African Customs Union was signed sometime in 2004.
Negotiations for the East African Common Market are now underway and should be concluded by December 2008. The Common Market is expected to be fully operational by January 2010 after the ratification of the protocol in June 2009.
And so far significant progress has been made in building the institutional infrastructure required to co-ordinate the integration process. There is the EAC Secretariat that acts as the organization’s think-tank, organising negotiations among Partner States. An East Africa Court of Justice has been established to adjudicate on legal matters pertaining to the community. There is also an East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), consisting of delegates from each of the three member states.
I think, Bwana JK even decided to form a separate ministry to deal with East African Affairs (minister Andrew Chenge). So it shows, though they are dragging their feet, there is some sort of seriousness.
Recently, there has been suggestions from several members of EA Legislative Assembly (EALA) that EAC states should pull out of COMESA and SADC and choose the suitable one to re-join it as an EAC bloc.
Jamani,
One question: how can we effectively integrate with other EAC countries while we have failed to iron out some union "snags" with Zanzibar? I know the objective, history, and environment surrounding the EAC issue is alot different from that of Union, but aren't we a little bit whimpy in dealing with some "uncomfortable" political realities?
Metty,
Tena umenikumbusha – you know the issue erupted in the Bunge recently with Zanzibari politicians insisting that Zenj should be given fair representation in EAC issues.
They want Zanzibar accorded at least an "associate membership" in the community to participate in decisions that affect the islands. Zanzibar complained that it was excluded from the talks that led to the East Africa Custom Union last year despite the common external tariffs having serious implications for the islands’ economy.
So with the Union dispute still hanging in the balance, it is better to straighten that out before making the next move.
Ned,
Tafadhali fanya hima umtumie Prof James Wangwe haya maoni na mengine ambayo umepata kuyakusanya binafsi.
Asante,
F MtiMkubwa Tungaraza.
Do you have Prof. Wangwe's contact info?
Samahani sina lakini kwa mambo yalivyo ninaweza kuipata.
F MtiMkubwa Tungaraza.
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